Sunday, November 28, 2010

Four Months After Miscarriage

It's been four months since my missed miscarriage.  My body has healed.  My heart still has not. While the sonogram image of my baby whose heart stopped beating no longer haunts my every thought; I am constantly reminded of what I have lost.  Ironically, Norrin reminded me today.

During my pregnancy, I urged Norrin to be careful with my belly. "A baby is in there," I had said.  But in a moment of excitement, he would pounce.  I'd hold my stomach and give him a look.  And he corrected himself, "Careful with Mommy's belly." Then he would kiss me. Once on my cheek, once on my stomach. 

Having a baby after Norrin was not an easy decision.  And even during the pregnancy we had our doubts, our fears.  For us, for Norrin and for the baby.  I purchased The New Baby by Mercer Mayer (one of Norrin's favorite authors/illustrators) and a few other books to introduce to the idea of new brother or sister.  I incorporated the books into his bedtime reading routine.

After I lost the baby, I immediately removed the books from his bookshelf and never mentioned the baby again.  For the first time since the diagnosis, I was grateful for autism.  Pregnancy was such an abstract thought, Norrin could easily forget. No questions could be asked, no explanations needed.  It was not a reality for him and in some way it made grieving easier.   

This morning, after brushing our teeth.  Norrin lifted up my shirt and stuck his index finger in my belly.  "There's a baby inside," he said.  He looked up at me and smiled as if he suddenly remembered. 

"No, Norrin.  There is no baby inside."

Of course he didn't ask "why" or "how come," the way a typical four and a half year old would.  And again, I was grateful.   How could I explain such a loss to him, when I didn't even understand?

But it occurred to him, four months later, that there had been a baby inside.  Was he curious?  Did he remember?  And at the thought, become excited? In the last month, he's had more play dates.  Does he want a sibling?  Is he lonely?  I may never know.

My husband, the eternal optimist, said, "Maybe he knows something we don't know." 

Maybe?  Though I doubt it.

Or maybe it's Norrin's atypical way of telling me, it's time to try again.   
       

10 comments:

  1. I agree with your husband....

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a wonderful post. Thanks for sharing this with us.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lisa, a terrific post, and a wonderful closure for your writing for this fall--and with lots of promise for the future.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks for being so open and honest. It sounds like you've gone through a lot of healing these past 4 months. I agree with you last sentiment...maybe it's time.

    ReplyDelete
  5. My girls started ccd. They're learning about God and Heaven (albeit in their own way). It's hard enough to explain such abstract things, much less explain it to kids like ours.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow Lisa - you have an amazing power to share the most intimate and a profoundly loving and caring partner with which to share the incredible gift that is Norrin...Stay strong y dale tiempo al tiempo - Rome wasn't built in a day. Lots of XOXO ;)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you for sharing something so private and emotional. And I agree with Joseph. :) xoxo love you.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh, your brave honesty has been such an inspiration to me! And even before you got to that last line, which by the way was the perfect way to end this piece, I hoped you would say as much, think as much, and ultimately do as much. I don't know about this particular pain but I would venture to say it's time to try again.
    Apparently, in spite of the pain (huge lesson here, lol) we have to keep going since life does...
    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you all for your kind words and support!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm sorry to hear about your loss. I miscarried 11 years ago and remember how long the pain lasted.

    ReplyDelete

AutismWonderland - written by Lisa Quinones-Fontanez - is a personal blog chronicling a NYC family's journey with autism, while also sharing local resources for children/families with special needs.